9 Powerful Snakes from History and Mythology. Ophioneus), ruled the world with Eurynome before the two of them were cast down by Kronos and Rhea. Different districts of Bengal celebrate the serpent in various ways. According to the "Introduction" (first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, each attends the gathering accompanied by several hundreds of thousands of followers. "Ma" being the universal mother. Why Gita is the most famous religious text in Hindu Mythology? Snakes have been worshipped for ages not only in Hindu tradition but in various other communities too. Kumarajiva's translation of the Lotus Sutra refers to them by their Sanskrit names: Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Takshaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka. -                                            SNAKES ARE NOT GODS             DONT FEAR SNAKES . [citation needed] Lake Guatavita in Colombia also maintains a Cacique legend of a "Serpent God" living in the waters, which the tribe worshipped by placing gold and silver jewelry into the lake. [citation needed], Serpents, or nāgas, play a particularly important role in Cambodian mythology. It is portrayed as part lion, part elephant and part horse, and in similar shapes. Among the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, there exists a legend of snake worshipping. Superb writer. Inorder to make people believe these concepts a Fear complex was instilled in the minds of the people and that resulted in the inclusion of SNAKES in Hinduism. The snake represented freedom in Hindu mythology because they cannot be tamed. Snakes are among the most misunderstood creatures on earth, and their stories are intertwined with humans in countless ways. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006). [citation needed], In Italy, the Marsian goddess Angitia, whose name derives from the word for "serpent," was associated with witches, snakes, and snake-charmers. Indonesia. Connected to rain as well as the dark, creative, cosmic waters of the underworld, the nagas are thought to hide in the interior of the earth and appear on the surface, especially during rainy season. Presented with the option of marrying the victorious Kaundinya, Soma readily agreed to do so, and together they ruled the land. The nagas or the tatsu also pluralised as naga are serpentine-like creatures who reside in lakes and rivers and the seventh ring of the netherworld. [citation needed], The Maya deity Kukulkan and the Aztec Quetzalcoatl (both meaning "feathered serpent") figured prominently in their respective cultures of origin. Serpents could also be evil and harmful such as the case of Apep. Regardless of their class and station, every family during this time created a clay model of the serpent-deity – usually the serpent-goddess with two snakes spreading their hoods on her shoulders. According to some sources, Ophion ("serpent", a.k.a. At the beginning of the commercial year, special worship is paid to her for success in personal affairs. At one time there were many prevalent different renditions of the serpent cult located in India. The Mound Builders evidently reverenced the serpent, as the Serpent Mound demonstrates, though we are unable to unravel the particular associations. A well-known story explains the emergence of the Khmer people from the union of Indian and indigenous elements, the latter being represented as nāgas. The mythological account of Garuda’s birth in the Mahabharata identifies him as the younger brother of Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god, Surya. Air leac an làir. [25], In Korean mythology, Eobshin, the wealth goddess, appears as an eared, black snake. The people worshipped this model at their homes and sacrificed a goat or a pigeon for the deity's honor (Bhattacharyya 1965, p. 5). Dreams about Snakes: Snakes in dreams are complex symbols. On the very last day of the Bengali month Shravana, all of these districts celebrate serpent-worship each year (Bhattacharyya 1965, p. 5). The rattlesnake was worshipped in the Natchez temple of the sun. Manasa is the queen of the snakes. On the flat surface of the ground. Asclepius' death at the hands of Zeus illustrates man's inability to challenge the natural order that separates mortal men from the gods. Nāgas form an important part of Hindu mythology. Non-poisonous Aesculapian snakes were left to crawl on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept. Manasā, also Mansa Devi, is a Hindu folk goddess of snakes, sister of Vasuki and wife of sage Jagatkāru (Jaratkāru). Every python of the danh-gbi kind must be treated with respect, and death is the penalty for killing one, even by accident. Also known as 'Nagini,' the female serpentine avatar or 'Vishahara,' the goddess who annihilates poison, Manasa, in the Hindu mythology, is believed to be the daughter of sage Kasyapa and Kadru, the sister of the serpent-king Sesha. Nagas of Indochina [ edit ] Serpents, or nāgas , play a particularly important role in Cambodian , Isan and Laotian mythology. [21] In Chile the Mapuche mythology featured a serpent figure in stories about a deluge. Snake figures are drawn in homes using a black powder, cow dung and milk mix. See Plutarch, Parallela Minora XIV, 309a and Sextus Propertius Elegies IV, 8. Garuda, in Hindu mythology, the bird (a kite or an eagle) and the vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu.In the Rigveda the sun is compared to a bird in its flight across the sky, and an eagle carries the ambrosial soma plant from heaven to earth. The third wife was called Kadroo, so Nagas are also known as Kadrooja. [17] Kukulkan was an official state deity of Itza in the northern Yucatan. Padmanabha (or Padmaka) is the guardian snake of the south. During the Puranic age Hinduism developed Karma Theory and Birth ReBirth Concepts. As snakes shed their skin it almost represents a 'rebirth' or being 'reborn.'. They consider that they are their ancestors who are cursed due to some wrong deeds. "[16], Wadjet was the patron goddess of Upper Egypt, and was represented as a cobra with spread hood, or a cobra-headed woman. Vritra (Sanskrit: वृत्र, vṛtra, lit. The other Gods eliminated were still in existence and given demi Gods status. [citation needed]. For the Dahomeans, the spirit of the serpent was one to be feared as he was unforgiving (Nida & Smalley 1959, p. 17). [29], Amphisbaena, a Greek word, from amphis, meaning "both ways", and bainein, meaning "to go", also called the "Mother of Ants", is a mythological, ant-eating serpent with a head at each end. Sheshdhar (Indian origin) means "one who holds snake". The Gorgons wore a belt of two intertwined serpents in the same configuration of the caduceus. Snakes were also commonly associated with water especially myths about the primordial ocean being formed of a huge coiled snake as in Ahi/Vritra in early Indian myth and Jormungand in Nordic myth. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is: Thig an nathair as an toll Nag Panchami, or the festival of snakes, is observed on the fifth day of the bright lunar fortnight of the Shravana month of the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to the worship of serpents mentioned in the great Hindu Puranas( Sanskrit encyclopedic texts containing cosmogonic histories, legends of gods and heroes, and other traditional material). She later became one of the protective emblems on the pharaoh's crown once Upper and Lower Egypt were united. The Gorgon was placed at the highest point and central of the relief on the Parthenon. This snake is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers. Both the Lernaean Hydra and Ladon were slain by Herakles. Vasuki is the snake that we see around the neck of Lord Shiva is Vasuki. Significant finds of pottery, bronze-ware and even gold depictions of snakes have been made throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE). People visit temples specially dedicated to snakes and worship them      All Hindu Gods Like Lord  Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya are associated with snakes They use them as Garland or Bed or Waist belt or simply as Body guard. Hinduism is said to have 'borrowed' this snake worship from them. In Greek mythology, Hermes was a messenger between the gods and humans (which explains the wings) and a guide to the underworld (which explains the staff). Sea monsters lived in every ocean from the seven-headed crocodile-serpent Leviathan of Hebrew myth to the sea-god Koloowisi of the Zuni people of North America and the Greek monster Scyllawith twelve snake-necks. Kukulkan (Q'uq'umatz in K'iche' Maya) is associated with Vision Serpent iconography in Maya art. [26], Matsura Sayohime (松浦佐用姫) was a legendary heroine in Japanese Buddhist mythology. Whether snakes are worshipped as gods, feared as devils, or handled in religious ceremonies to test faith, snakes have played a critical role in the human heritage. But snake dreams from seeing, talking, or watching scenes about snakes should be ignored. Throughout history, be it the legend of Jormungand, the Viking sea snake in Norse Mythology, or the Naga in Hindu mythology, the portrayal of … Go, be drowned in the Lake of the Abyss, at the place where your father commanded that the slaying of you should be carried out. (This portion of review repeats for other books.) Snakes - even their thought can slither down your spine. Although the Classical Greeks were clear that these snakes represented a threat, the snake-brandishing gesture of Herakles is the same as that of the Cretan goddess. Lord Indra's white elephant. It is thought that an ancient people called the Nagas worshipped snakes. In Hinduism: Cosmogony …Vishnu) floated on the snake Ananta (“Endless”) on the primeval waters. Snakes were also commonly associated with water especially myths about the primordial ocean being formed of a huge coiled snake as in Ahi/Vritra in early Indian myth and Jormungand in Nordic myth. Her festival day, Imbolc is traditionally a time for weather prognostication based on watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens. Keeping its tail on the ground the snake would raise its head to the sky looking for the rain god. Most of the depictions of snakes are similar, with a consistent dotted decoration applied to them. For the band, see. Her name is Kundalini Shakti, and she represents the unfolding of the divine Shakti energy, the energising potential of life itself, a living goddess who enlivens all things. The serpent-god's image is carried in an annual procession by a celibate priestess. There are various myths surrounding this snake and here are some of the most important ones. If a snake bites a dreamer, then they are considered lucky. They worship it as a god...When they see a snake, they call it a great god, and do not kill it or chase it away." The snake (or naga, in Sanskrit), has an important and nuanced role in Hindu tradition and mythology. One snake swallowing another is a sign of famine. The Aboriginal peoples in southwest Australia called the serpent the Waugyl, while the Warramunga of the east coast worshipped the mythical Wollunqua. Today we are going to take you for a thrilling virtual tour to the world of the 20 most deadliest and dangerous snakes in the world. Yali sculptures are widely used on the walls and pillars of South Indian temples. ANTIDOTES ARE AVAILABLE. Snake Omen. Even Snakes were used as rope to Churn the Milk Sea to get the immortal Elixir Amrit called Amrith Mandhan. [citation needed], The worship of Quetzalcoatl dates back to as early as the 1st century BC at Teotihuacan. Vinatâ asked for just two children, with the stipulation that they must outrank those of Kadrû.The two children were Varuna and Garuda.. In religion and mythology, snakes were often seen as images of strength, or of renewal.. "Get back! Laocoön was allegedly a priest of Poseidon (or of Apollo, by some accounts) at Troy; he was famous for warning the Trojans in vain against accepting the Trojan Horse from the Greeks, and for his subsequent divine execution. In the Rigveda the sun is compared to a bird in its flight across the sky, and an eagle carries the ambrosial soma plant from heaven to earth. They are very powerful symbols in mythology, religion, and folklore, and some of these symbols and metaphors continue to influence peoples’ perceptions of snakes … The Bronze Age and Iron Age metallurgical centre of Saruq Al Hadid has yielded probably the richest trove of such objects, although finds have been made bearing snake symbols in Bronze Age sites at Rumailah, Bithnah and Masafi. They also claim that even a real serpent mostly cobra living with them but never harm any one. Garuda (Sanskrit: गरुड Garuḍa; Pāli: गरुळ Garuḷa) is a legendary bird or bird-like creature in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faith. Her worship was centered in the Central Apennine region.[28]. Krishna (Balakrishna / infant Krishna) subdued Kaliya by dancing on him and compelled him to leave the river. ... as “nagas” are ranked high in Hindu mythology. [18] In many Mesoamerican cultures, the serpent was regarded as a portal between two worlds. Krishna dancing over snake Kaliya at the sand-covered temple ruins in Talakkadu, Karnataka, India. The 'snake with six heads' or 'Sheshnag' was the vehicle of Lord Vishnu and according to … The entrance of a snake into a house denotes wealth to the householder ; but just the reverse if it is seen departing from a house. When presented to the snake, Sayohime read from the Lotus sutra, enabling the deity to achieve enlightenment and shed its monstrous form. Hinduism formed during vedic periods 6000 years BC and evolved further changing Gods from ancient Adhitya ,Agni, Vayu, Soma and Indira to the present Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as  prime gods during puranic age. "enveloper") is a Vedic serpent, dragon or demon in Hinduism, the personification of drought and adversary of Indra. Serpents figured prominently in archaic Greek myths. Even Lord Krishna danced on Snake Kalia and asked to him to leave Yamuna which was being terrorised by Kalia. The snake primarily represents rebirth, death and mortality, due to its casting of its skin and being symbolically "reborn". [14][15] Simbi are a type of serpentine loa in Haitian Vodou. Prayers are said and more offerings of milk, butter (called ghee), water and rice are made. Ringle, William M., Tomás Gallareta Negrón, and George J. Bey (1998) "The Return of Quetzalcoatl". See more ideas about mythology, creatures, fantasy. The Sheshnag is basically a 5 headed snake that plays a very important role in Hindu mythology. [10], In Africa the chief centre of serpent worship was Dahomey, but the cult of the python seems to have been of exotic origin, dating back to the first quarter of the 17th century. To this day there are numerous traces in European popular belief, especially in Germany, of respect for the snake, possibly a survival of ancestor worship: The "house snake" cares for the cows and the children, and its appearance is an omen of death; and the lives of a pair of house snakes are often held to be bound with that of the master and the mistress. The people believed that the earth these snakes were made from cured illnesses, especially children's diseases (Bhattacharyya 1965, p. 6). This one is about Hinduism. Snake worship refers to the high status of snakes in Hindu mythology which, along with a host of other life forms, appear as vital characters in the Hindu epics. IT'S BITE IS NO MORE FATAL. Hindu Mythology is based on myths found in many Hindu narratives. However, killing a snake in a dream is considered unlucky. If a snake falls on you, it’s a forewarning of sickness and disease. Parashurama, (Sanskrit: “Rama with the Ax”) one of the 10 avatars (incarnations) of the Hindu god Vishnu. Resembling a small house made of cork, the Karandi is decorated with images of snakes, the snake goddess, and snake legends on its walls and roof (Bhattacharyya 1965, p. 6). By the conquest of Whydah the Dahomeyans were brought in contact with a people of serpent worshippers, and ended by adopting from them the beliefs which they at first despised. As it drank great quantities of water, the snake would spill some which would fall to the earth as rain (Meyerowitz 1940, p. 48). No doubt it has no relevance now. Ahi. Naga, regarded as the guardian of the treasure, are demigods capable of taking any forms, but mostly depicted in half human and half snake form. ; Feather Boa Constrictor: Wearing a snake as though it's a fashion accessory, typically like a scarf. A mythilogical vessel given to Yudhishthira by the Sun god which was never empty of … Apollo slew Python and made her former home, Delphi, his own oracle. Inspite of having other texts like Vedas, Upanishads, Manusmriti etc , Bhagwad Gita is the most famous among masses. [7] At the Babylonian New Year's festival, the priest was to commission from a woodworker, a metalworker, and a goldsmith two images, one of which "shall hold in its left hand a snake of cedar, raising its right [hand] to the god Nabu". Hygieia was a daughter of Asclepius. A well-known story explains the emergence of the Khmer people from the union of Indian and indigenous elements, the latter being represented as nāgas. Some cultures, for instance, believed that snakes served as guardians and messengers from the underworld because they lived in the ground. creatures of Indian mythology..", followed by 432 people on Pinterest. Another tradition states that Apollo sent the serpents for an unrelated offense, and only unlucky timing caused the Trojans to misinterpret them as punishment for striking the Horse. To these human food and flowers are offered and lights are burned before the shrines. They play prominent roles in various legends:[citation needed]. [32], The Snake God Naga and his consort.The photo is taken at the cave temples clusters of Ajanta, Maharashtra, India. The cobra was not only associated with the sun god Ra, but also many other deities such as Wadjet, Renenutet, Nehebkau, and Meretseger. 27. Amongst his children by Echidna are Cerberus (a monstrous three-headed dog with a snake for a tail and a serpentine mane), the serpent-tailed Chimaera, the serpent-like water beast Hydra, and the hundred-headed serpentine dragon Ladon. In the districts of East Mymensing, West Sylhet, and North Tippera, serpent-worship rituals were very similar, however (Bhattacharyya 1965, p. 5). They have no relevance now and needs change. [citation needed] Tradition states that one of the Gnostic sects known as the Ophites caused a tame serpent to coil around the sacramental bread, and worshipped it as the representative of the Savior. Nāga (Sanskrit:नाग) is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for a deity or class of entity or being, taking the form of a very large snake, found in Hinduism and Buddhism. He guarded it with a massive serpent that never slept. A motif of snake goddess. Finally another tradition in Hindu culture relating to yoga brings up kundalini, a type of spiritual energy said to sit at the base of the human spine. Before the arrival of the Israelites, snake cults were well established in Canaan in the Bronze Age, for archaeologists have uncovered serpent cult objects in Bronze Age strata at several pre-Israelite cities in Canaan: two at Megiddo,[2] one at Gezer,[3] one in the sanctum sanctorum of the Area H temple at Hazor,[4] and two at Shechem. Aeetes, the king of Colchis and father of the sorceress Medea, possessed the Golden Fleece. Hindu Scriptures brim with the stories of Naga. INDIA-SNAKE Apps Agnihotra. Vasuki (Sanskrit origin) means "King of the serpents". She is the sister of … Ancient Mesopotamians and Semites believed that snakes were immortal because they could infinitely shed their skin and appear forever youthful, appearing in a fresh guise every time. The snakes used for these jobs including bed for Lord Vishnu were depicted as huge in size with thousands of heads. Lord Shiva also wears a snake around his neck       Do these myths have any relevance now. Gorgon blood had magical properties: if taken from the left side of the Gorgon, it was a fatal poison; from the right side, the blood was capable of bringing the dead back to life. Meanings of Snake dreams in Hinduism. In Hinduism: Cosmogony …Vishnu) floated on the snake Ananta (“Endless”) on the primeval waters. In Northern India, a masculine version of the serpent named Rivaan and known as the “king of the serpents” was worshipped. The place of snakes are immortalised in Hindu mythology by associating them to ‘LORD KARTIKEYA’ the commander -in chief of the Devas and the son of Lord Shiva as well. Snakes in Hinduism. Snakes, nagas, have high status in Hindu mythology. It is said to have the strength, ferociousness and speed of a lion. In Indian mythology, it is believed that the name spelled Sheshdhar represents Lord Shiva, who holds the snake on his "shesh", i.e. Fascination with snakes has been around since the dawn of time. There are four other snakes on the sides of this pot: Danh – gbi, the life giving snake, Li, for protection, Liwui, which was associated with Wu, god of the sea, and Fa, the messenger of the gods (Meyerowitz 1940, p. 48). Basilisk and Cockatrice: The basilisk of antiquity was depicted as the king of serpents, and many modern works follow suit. In many parts of Africa the serpent is looked upon as the incarnation of deceased relatives. Native American mythology also included a symbol that represented a snake deity … In ancient Rome we can also observe the tradition of … [citation needed]. The author of the Bibliotheca claimed that Athena gave Asclepius a vial of blood from the Gorgons. [citation needed], Ancient Egyptians worshipped snakes, especially the cobra. In the ancient Hindu text known as Swapna Shastra, the snake is generally seen in a positive light. A nagaraja is a king of the nagas. [citation needed], Indigenous peoples of the Americas such as the Hopi give reverence to the rattlesnake as grandfather and king of snakes who is able to give fair winds or cause tempest. Among the Amazulu, as among the Betsileo of Madagascar, certain species are assigned as the abode of certain classes. They are associated with water or source of water. It is … Bhagwad Gita became famous because of the Britishers.